Raphinha came to Leeds’ rescue with a superb curling finish to rescue a point against Everton in the club’s first home Premier League game with a full stadium in 17 years.
The Brazilian, who scored home and away against the Toffees last season, struck with 18 minutes remaining of a pulsating, ferocious and frankly brilliant match played out to near constant noise from the stands.
Leeds had been behind twice, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin giving Everton a first-half lead with a penalty awarded via VAR and a low finish on the turn from the excellent Demarai Gray early in the second.
Mateusz Klich restored parity the first time courtesy of a dinked finish and Raphinha ensured a point apiece with his brilliant strike.
Leeds were the better side for much of the contest, roared on at every opportunity by 36,293 fans, making the most of being together in the ground for the first time in 532 days.
But Everton were a threat throughout and would have possibly put the game to bed by making it 3-1 had Illan Meslier not produced a superb save to deny Calvert-Lewin a second from close range.
It means a first point of the season for the home side and now two games unbeaten for the Toffees at the start of Rafael Benitez’s managerial tenure.
A game befitting a full house
Can all football matches be like this one?
It had everything you could wish for – great goals, fierce tackles, battles within a battle, twists and turns, all played out between two sides intent on going for a killer blow in front of a vociferous, deafening crowd revelling in their return to a stadium.
It was loud before kick-off and stayed that way throughout, with each Leeds goal greeted with an ear-splitting release of joy.
The Whites fans were certainly put through the wringer, though, on their return.
They were handed a perceived injustice in the first-half when referee Darren England went to consult his pitchside monitor and concluded that Liam Cooper had indeed held Calvert-Lewin in the box.
After the surge of renewed optimism of Klich’s equaliser, they were dealt anther hammer blow via Gray’s finish – a well-executed bit of skill that summed up the winger’s impressive display.
There were nervy moments at 2-1, with Everton threatening to pull away as Manchester United had done the previous weekend, but Leeds rallied and deservedly earned their point from Raphinha’s moment of magic.
Patrick Bamford – who spent the game embroiled in a running battle with defender Yerry Mina – had a half-chance to potentially even win it for Leeds, but he was unable to convert, much to relief of the Elland Road roof.
Everton will be disappointed not to have held on for a second successive win, but will be pleased with a display that showcased what Benitez is aiming for with the team.
They will cause problems with their pace and dynamism in attack – Calvert-Lewin the focal point off which a host of lively forwards dart and dash with intent.
